Spank's quote from CraigsList (not Spank's project, I'm sure) shows what happens to imaginative dreams that end up as unfinished projects.  The words "the build I always wanted to do" and "some items to be finished" tell the story. What's left is a badly cut-up shell, probably not driveable, certainly not roadworthy. The line "time for someone else to enjoy" is a laugh... a sad laugh.

 

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/6153660236.html

[quote]This has been a build I have always wanted to do so I did and now it's time for someone to enjoy it. there are some items to be finished. Still is a project to finish completely. Wiring for accessories, rear firewall, cosmetic hood and fender fitment. Could be a really fun drift car or crazy track car. 

I have a 2004 Mini Cooper s that I have converted to RWD and put a 600hp turbo Chevy 350 sbc with th350.

Some Keys items:
Side door mount radiator
4 link rear suspension
Half cage
Custom chassis
Front bash bars
Toyota 4 runner rear end with 3.73
Front and rear disk brakes. 
Snow methanol water injection kit
B&m Rachel shifter

Must see. Open to price and trades. As is. Looking for pre 1970 Cadillac [/quote]

For those of you who weren't paying attention, I plan on using a mini pickup frame... Wheich should have a wheelbase .5in smaller than the cj-5 if the minimania information is correct

Does anyone else think that Specialist is behind all of this.... Obviously Mrkong is being ridiculous. A mini pickup on a CJ-5 frame, that will never ever fit. Swapped with a extremely large flat 6 engine that will also never fit.

You may be better off doing the minitec AWD Vtec conversion and see about raising the suspension a bit more. It wont look like the mini you posted but, it may look like a Baja mini instead....if that works for you.

MrKong: Before dreaming any more, you need to see a classic Mini in the flesh. It is way smaller than you think. The Jeep Renegade you are considering has a wheelbase of 257 cm = 9'-5". The classic Mini has a wheelbase of 203.6cm =. 6'-8". That's a difference of 21.2". That means if you line up the rear wheel sells with the rear axle, the front axle will be out in front of the front bumper. The Mini wheel wells will not take anything more than a low- profile 13" tire. That means the big Jeep tires will have to be under the floor level.
You ask if anyone thinks Subaru engines will fit between the Jeep frame and the Mini body shell. Only if the shell is blocked up above the top of the motor, which means it won't "bolt right onto the frame". And then the engine will also stick out in front of the shell's nose. So, where would you put the radiator?

Wheelbase????

Beginning to sound more like a Tony....

I predict another abandoned project, having wasted a good shell...

Smells of "isn't a.." as well.

Loving the dually pickup - it's not often I see something new.

Gee, thanks MiniGuy.

How much for the truck? I have no interest in any of the drivetrain, suspension, and stuff like that. I plan to just drop it onto a jeep CJ-5 frame... Who thinks the Mini pickup would have enough clearance between it and the jeep frame to swap in a Subaru EG33 (3.3L) or EZ36D (3.6L)... The EZ36D has 260HP and 250LB*FT of torque, and the EG33 isn't too much less.

MrKong.. are you  STONED or plain STUPIC.??. ( note the correct spelling here of STUPID.)  later b c

This "modified" dually Mini pickup will be available shortly, but one of the board members has first dibs on it pending a reasonable asking price from the seller. Let me know if you'd like to be second in line. Located in a small town in rural Texas, of course...
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Speedway Motors has a good selection of spun aluminium tanks.

The Jeep you showed has a good looking body so some savings there when you sell that.

I might need to come see this when you get it going, I am in Lilburn so close by.

For the fuel tank I want to use a keg style tank. Does anyone know how I would find the correct sender and pump? If you can link me to a kit it would be very helpful.

I should also add that the suzuki samurai is a popular engine swap platform for the rock crawler crowd. I know they sell a kit to use a VW TDI (diesel) motor for maximum torque and "crawling" speed. A 2.0L and 2.3L Suzuki aerio motor is also a popular swap into Sammys.

I have found the jeep that I think i am going to use, it is in the picture below.

The shell should bolt right onto the frame without too much trouble, and if it sits too high then all i have to do is take off the lift kit. The jeep cost 2,000$ and another 800$ to ship it to my house.

Here is a CJ5 in Gainsville https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/wto/6097280075.html

Not sure where you are located. If you want to do this with a BINI (a BMW MINI) I have a 2004 w/ CA title here in CA (California) that I can let go for very cheap, price dependent on how much of interior and suspension you want. If you want EVERYTHING it would be no more than $1500. I can get it down to as low as $500 w/ CA title. I think a BINI (2002 and newer model year) it would better fit on something like a Jeep CJ or Wrangler Body-on-Frame chassis. It's wider stance and larger wheelbase will fit better with a REAL offroad vehicle donor car.


If you want to do this with a Classic mini, you're only real options for "easy" are as was suggested, a suzuki samurai, suzuki vitara or some other small offroad-ish vehicle. The classic mini pickup shell and the wagon shell is slightly longer and fits more exactly the length than would a standard saloon / sedan shell.

I have supplied a classic mini shell to someone once before who wanted to do a mini-rod and he ran into more issues that he thought. It required him to channel the whole floor to get it to sit down as low as he aesthetically wanted, and then he ran into head room problems because of the frame rails preventing him from lowering the seat down far enough.


This one you can see is just the stock floorpan stuck straight on top of 4x4 frame rails and sits up very high.


I think you should do whatever it is you want to do with whatever car it is you want to do it with. There's no reason for you to need to pay $5K just for a donor shell, even as a classic mini. Ask yourself how you will title it in your home state, however. Will it be a mini title or a MINI title or a Suzuki title or a vehicle of special construction??

Quick update... I hope to use a mini pick-up shell that is in the for sale section on minimania (5000$). I will drop the shell onto a 55'-86' Jeep CJ-5. Depending on what I can find, I will either swap the engine in the CJ-5 or find one that has already been swapped.

I will check out jeeps and see if i can find one that will work. I'm trying to find something cheap and without an engine so i can stay in the budget.